Pleasing a master and perfectionist is never easy, if your father is the famed bicycle builder Ugo DeRosa, it’s a downright terrifying prospect.

Doriano DeRosa started building frames in 1975 as a teenager under his father’s severe gaze. Thirty-five years later, he’s the craftsman in charge.

In the opening seminar of this year’s NAHBS, Doriano explained how the family model of demand and nurture employed by his father in his own upbringing is applied to his craft as DeRosa’s head titanium and steel framebuilder.

Attention to detail and a critical eye produce a superior product. “Doriano is completely involved with the whole process of producing a custom steel or titanium frame, from start to finish,” explains Trey Henderson of Trialtir USA, DeRosa’s American importer. “From measuring the customer to testing the strength of the frame, he’s totally committed to the process of building a masterpiece.”

DeRosa explained the eight steps on the path to building a frameset that bears his family’s name. First, the customer is meticulously measured. Second, these careful measurements are converted into customer-specific tube lengths and frame geometry with the aid of CAD software in a process he calls “projection”.

The next two steps are the most critical, especially for a titanium specialist like Doriano DeRosa. The raw tubes are “mitered”, or cut angularly, with the help of precision machines. Next, the tubes are fitted together on alignment tables in the “positioning” step. This is a crucial and exacting step for the lugless Ti and steel frames in which DeRosa specializes, because there is no room for error to produce a solid, strong tube joint.

Next, the tubes are cleaned and welded in a pristine environment – again an especially important step to get right for a titanium specialist like DeRosa, and one at which many less experienced builders stumble.

Finally, the frame’s alignment is checked, and its durability and quality are tested in a rigorous process that again employs a combination of cutting edge technology and the immeasurable intuition of a craftsman.

“For me, weight is not as important as durability and strength” says DeRosa. That those two latter ideals are emphasized is shown by the results of DeRosa’s in-house stress test. A DeRosa frame constructed from 6/4 blend titanium tubing has been shown to be theoretically capable of withstanding 200kg (440 lb.) dynamic force cycles repeatedly and constantly for 400,000 years before fatigue will cause breakage!

Much as keeping the business a family affair is important for DeRosa and his two brothers, having a strong relationship with titanium tubing supplier Reynolds is strongly valued and has been cultivated over 10-12 years of working together. DeRosa built his first Ti frame in 1993, and in 2002 made the switch to 6/4 alloy titanium – stronger and stiffer than its more popularly used 3/2.5 alloy brother – all sourced by Reynolds.

“The testing I do gives me important data on optimum tube thickness and shape parameters”, says DeRosa. “Reynolds is a great partner and takes pains to develop and give me exactly what I need to produce a strong, durable and elegant frame.”

So there you have it: invest some (serious) cash in high-tech frame design tools and follow the eight-step process and you’ll have your own version of a DeRosa, right? Not so fast, Doriano cautions.

“Being a framebuilder is not just about making the frame. It’s about putting your philosophy behind the design. It’s about developing and making your own tools if the right ones don’t exist. It’s about being open to new technology. It’s about…” DeRosa’s hands grasped at an imaginary frameset in the air as he struggled for words in his highly self-underestimated English.

It’s about heart and soul. You’re born with it; it’s not earned. So if you want to build a DeRosa, you’d better be a DeRosa.

Australian Continental squad Fly V Australia returns to North America this year with lofty ambitions and new bike and wheel suppliers De Rosa and Reynolds to help accomplish its goals. The team’s evolution hasn’t been limited to its equipment suppliers for 2010, either, with the outfit adding more climbing power in 2009 Tour de Langkawi runner up Jai Crawford.

Part of our training took us into the Brown County State Park, the location of the 1987 Pan Am Games Road Race. Hills reach 21% grades making it one of the most difficult places to train, especially early season. Cold weather and rain made for some very interesting descents.

The De Rosa Corums performed flawlessly and any question posed by those that have only ridden carbon concerning frame flex was quickly dispelled. Straight as an arrow and took every rough patch in stride.

Dienstag, 16. März 2010

The last month has been successful for our Fly V australia Pro Cycling team, we have conducted our Media Camp in Agoura Hills, California and also been victorious in the OCBC Singapore International Criterium with Ben Kersten aboard a De Rosa King 3 RS winning in front of many Pro Tour squads. Read more by Velonews.

One of our riders, Jay Thomson won a stage of the Tour de Langkawi aboard his King 3 RS also, and we have had 3 consecutive wins in regional races.

Our Team Owner, Chris White was featured in the Los Angeles daily news holding a De Rosa and promoting the team and a De Rosa shop dealer ride in Pasadena, California. Read more by DailyNews

This bike is a 52.5 De Rosa King 3 RS that is a spare bike for race use by the Fly V australia Pro Cycling Team, not in official team colours.

Sonntag, 7. März 2010

We combined the classic paint scheme by using the seat tube band with the modern corum frame design. We think it is a hit.

The criterium style events that we race here in the states are a perfect fit for the Corum. Criteriums lead to crashes, and the steel frame will allow for easy repair if damaged, and if crashed, will not potentially fail like carbon will. In addition, we went with aluminum bars and stems for the same reason. Still comes in at 16lbs. With a little effort, it could easily be 15lbs. The first thing people do is pick it up and can't believe it is steel. And it rides as good as it looks.

Montag, 1. März 2010

This is a 1979-80 De Rosa Professional. Where I live, in Sweden, finding a frame like this is impossible. I have always wanted one and I was very pleased when this one showed up on eBay. After winning the auction it was a nervous wait for it to arrive. I was pleasantly surprised.

I took some photographs and made a set of them because these first years of investment cast lugs are not very well documented. Perhaps it will be of interest for others hunting for information. Of special interest might be the pictures of the fork tangs - there is a star cut out in them and the pictures of the pinned construction - as can be seen thru the bottom bracket shell.

The colour is called »ambrosia« - according to Mr Ken Lyon who had a De Rosa special ordered in the same colour. Very difficult to photograph - it is a olive/dark green with a gold mist metallic. The paint and decals are original and there are some touch ups in a somewhat different green - this will be redone in a better matching colour.

The frame is in a wonderful shape and the very small blemishes that are present is really nothing - bearing in mind this frame is 30 years old. These pics are taken just minutes after I got it home and with a little cleaning and waxing (and the right touch up paint) it will look almost as new.

It will be built up with a Campagnolo Super Record group from 1980. I have all the right parts. The De Rosa panto stem that can be seen in some of the pics is NOS and period correct.